Long Walk to Spello.

Went for a nice long walk (20+ miles) yesterday. Started out early, passing under Porta Cappuccini at about 6:00 a.m. (T'was even darker outside the gate.) 

Headed up Mount Subasio and crossed over above the Eremo delle Carceri. Because of so much recent rain, I decided to stick mostly to paved and gravel roads, rather than slide along the trails. Didn't encounter any vehicles until later in the morning. After about two hours I reached Fonte Bregno, an ancient spring by the Assisi-Spello border, and home of one of three sculptures on Subasio by Fiorenzo Bacci.

It's called "Sister Water", a nice Franciscan-like name for an interesting aqua creature. From there I continued on in the direction of Collepino. Was hoping for some good views and was not disappointed.

After a while I turned off to explore some back roads leading to Spello, and finally had the first vehicle of the day pass by. After a stretch of gradual descent, Spello came into view.

Now it was time to figure out a not too indirect route down. The road was good for a while, but eventually a bumpy dirt alternative called "Via Paradiso" presented itself. Tough to resist with such a promising name.

Workers were out pruning the olive trees. A farmer passed by on his tractor.

Soon Spello was again in view, this time much closer.

 

The final stretch to town was along a lengthy ancient Roman aqueduct (not that there are any recent ones). What appears to be a wall on the right has a hollow stone core and was used to transport water.

Someone was kind enough to provide a resting place along the path.



There's a continuously flowing fountain near the gate into Spello, currently marked with evidence of a Franciscan follower.

Finally, time to enter Spello.

Spello itself goes back to Etruscan times, and this too is a well preserved town with much to see. I've covered it in previous posts, so won't go into detail here. Especially worth seeing are the works of Perugino and Pinturicchio found in local churches. This time I also enjoyed a visit to the Twelfth Century San Severino Church, which has an interesting interior and history.
The road back to Assisi was more direct, with just a few diversions. Not far from Spello is the "Via degli Ulivi" or Way of the Olives, a charmingly and aptly named thoroughfare going just the right way.

One can hardly tire of walking through olive groves.
Throughout the region one encounters shrines along the roadway. On the return road to Assisi this one of Francis is very nice.

The words engraved on separate stones are from the Canticle of the Creatures.
Finally, Spring has been very late in arriving this year. Usually by this time thousands of red poppies can be seen along the roadsides. Knowing how mia bella moglie has been patiently waiting for a poppy picture, when I spotted this first one I happily scrambled up a side path for a picture.

Buona Primavera e Ciao.